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Wildlife & Wilderness on the Spectacular Kenai Peninsula

Once upon a time, there was an outdoor-loving family seeking an action-packed vacation. A clever bunch, they decided on Alaska. And as soon as they arrived and witnessed the dramatic peaks of the Alaska Range, they knew they'd chosen wisely. The kids hiked to the face of Exit Glacier; parents ascended to the Harding Icefield. They all raced through the woods on a thrilling dogsled ride, spotted moose and eagles during a river float trip and watched salmon swimming upstream. And to this day, they all agree: it was the best family vacation ever.

We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Read the Straight Talk

Straight Talk

We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Accommodations & Service Standards

Alaska is a land of rustic and rugged beauty, and while Backroads has selected the best properties in the places we visit, simplicity and comfort outweigh elegance and luxury in this great state.Generally speaking, service in Alaska can seem slow and casual when compared with the high standards of service found on other Backroads trips. Patience, a sense of humor and appreciation for the cultural differences that abound in this population-sparse setting will help you make the most of your experience.

Traffic

While Backroads strives to find routes that are quiet and off the beaten track, some options on this trip follow heavily trafficked roads. Of course, you're always welcome to jump in the shuttle to avoid the busier roads.

We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Accommodations & Service Standards

Alaska is a land of rustic and rugged beauty, and while Backroads has selected the best properties in the places we visit, simplicity and comfort outweigh elegance and luxury in this great state.Generally speaking, service in Alaska can seem slow and casual when compared with the high standards of service found on other Backroads trips. Patience, a sense of humor and appreciation for the cultural differences that abound in this population-sparse setting will help you make the most of your experience.

Traffic

While Backroads strives to find routes that are quiet and off the beaten track, some options on this trip follow heavily trafficked roads. Of course, you're always welcome to jump in the shuttle to avoid the busier roads.

Itinerary

Days
1-2Alaska's dramatic landscapes on a single astonishing peninsula Kick off the trip with a spin along bike paths leading you out of Anchorage and onto the gently rolling Tony Knowles Coastal Trail - keep your eyes open for moose! Get up close with Alaska’s wild residents at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, which rehabilitates injured and orphaned animals and returns them to the wild Journey south to the Kenai Peninsula, a wonderland of rugged mountains, glaciers, fjords and lakes Hike the beautiful Ptarmigan Lake Trail through Sitka spruce forest and past crystal-clear Ptarmigan Creek, where red sockeye salmon spawn in summer.

Day
3In Kenai Fjords National Park, kids hike to the face of Exit Glacier and explore the fascinating Alaska SeaLife Center, home to sea lions, harbor seals, Alaskan king crabs, puffins and other marine wildlife Meanwhile, adults embark on a once-in-a-lifetime trek with spectacular views of the vast Harding Icefield Meet some of the famed Iditarod race's canine participants and experience the excitement of racing on comfortable wheeled dogsleds.

Day
4Explore Homer, one of Alaska's most beautifully situated towns Take in jaw-dropping views of Cook Inlet and the volcanoes of the Alaska Range A scenic bike ride leads to a viewpoint overlooking Grewingk Glacier and Homer Spit, a narrow finger of land in picturesque Kachemak Bay.

Land's End Resort

Guest Reviews About This Trip

Our trip was wonderful and exceeded our expectations. The schedule of activities was varied and timed well. We saw more than we ever could have on our own. Alaska is beautiful and we felt the activities allowed us to see the beauty of the landscape and the wildlife from multiple different viewpoints. As a result we saw moose, bear, sea otters, beluga and humpback whales, bald eagles, salmon spawning, and so much more. All of that while making new friends and memories that will last a lifetime.

Nancy Schindler- Glenview, IL

Our Alaska vacation was all that we hoped for and more! All of the leaders were friendly, courteous, professional, fun, engaging and very accommodating! They all contributed in their own unique ways to making this vacation one that my son and I will both remember for the rest of our lives. For a family trip, there was just the right amount of activity for the kids. We met many fun, interesting and friendly people, and we took home with us many wonderful memories. I am already recommending Backroads to all of my family and friends back home. We will definitely be traveling with Backroads again!

Diana P.- Georgetown, MA

We had an absolutely wonderful time - the fabulous trip leaders made the trip extraordinary. Our children will remember this trip for the rest of their lives. In addition to just being great companions, examples of their extra effort were they secured a fantastic behind-the-scenes tour of the sea life center for the kids, gave my (substantial) 6-year-old a mile-plus-long piggyback when she refused to continue walking, and literally taking baby steps with me on the walk up to Harding Icefield - as a result I made it to the top! We have told many friends about the trip and we plan to do another one soon

This Trip Is Rated Level 1-3

Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of
interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one
day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat
from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each
day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Daily Route Options

Day

Activity

EASYGOING

ACTIVE

AVID

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

miles

feet gain

miles

feet gain

miles

feet gain

miles

feet gain

miles

feet gain

1

Biking

10

200

Biking

16

400

2

Walking/Hiking

7

600

3

Walking/Hiking

3

1500

4

2000

8

3000

Kids

Exit Glacier Hike (2 Miles; 100’ elevation gain)

Kids

Visit to Alaska SeaLife Center (2 Hours)

Other

Dogsled ride (1.5 Hours)

4

Biking

10*

300

23*

500

33

1600

Biking

40

500

5

Kayaking

On Kachemak Bay (All Day)

6

Rafting

On the Kenai River (2 Hours)

note:

On this Family Trip, our routes follow rolling terrain. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.

Parts of this trip are on permitted areas in Chugach National Forest.

* Includes a shuttle

Private Trips Options & Pricing

Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities.

You can pick from a large selection of dates for your group of 8 or more. Call us for date availability.

If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or if your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you.